To wish I didn’t work

My goodness me OP, will you stop offending MN! 😂

I'm amazed at how easily people are riled - especially in what is plain to see, a hypothetical post!!

I'm with you. If I didn't have to, I wouldn't work... And I quite like my job. Pay is shite, but it definitely has meaning so I trudge on. Would I if I won the lottery?... Would I?... Would I though... Nah, probably not.

Also started slightly later at parenting. Hated baby stage. Hated toddler stage. Seriously mourned my previous life. Just getting into the swing of it 7 years on. I like having a child I can hold a (semi-rational-ish, almost reasonable) conversation with... But, I have Mondays off, and I love it!

Also, I worked two days to begin with in my current role and I felt how you describe. Went up to three days which has made me feel much more a part of the team and in the loop. I also enjoy the little routine I have going. Just when I've had enough of home life slog, I can switch it up with work, and visa versa.

Hang in there... But in the meantime, if you happen to come into some big unexpected fortune, get the hell out and live your 'day to yourself' fantasy! 😉

Totally understandable OP. I am 49 and my kids are 12 and 14, but I'd love to throw my job in. I do enjoy it and only work 4 days but supporting my elderly parents too and depressed husband. I'm knackered.

Those early years are so tiring. I worked 3 days a week until they were both in school then I went to 4 days. My Fridays off were golden. Even when it's mostly housework, it just gave me that breathing space to read cover coffee, meet a friend, go for a swim.

Of course it's a lovely fantasy giving up work - many of my colleagues enjoy work as I do, but would still give it up if they could, whatever stage of life they are at!

Just keep carving out bits of time to yourself!

I get the part time thing so much op- I work in retail and in January and February my hours go down to 18 hours (30 later in the year 40 plus at Christmas) and you’d think I didn’t work even though I miss out on weekends and it means I’m up 7 mornings a week!

I hate having to work. I just want to be left alone to read. Frankly, I’m only happy when I’m either reading or out in the countryside (or the bits of countryside that haven’t yet been turned into building sites).

Mine are older now and I don't miss it. I miss elements of it sometimes and I'm not immune to nostalgia, but no, I don't miss it. On the other hand I think in a few years I'll really miss the age they are now.

I just work 2 days a week. It’s great.

In the grand context of jobs, mine is good

But its not like leisure time .

Sometimes i think sure I'd like to just not work but then i think actually it would get pretty boring. And i can see that I'd just become a bit of a useless fecker and get less and less done in the time i had. You know what they say? Want something doing ask a busy person? Look at retired people. They haven't enough to do so let the few things they do expand to fill more and more time

@Iwishididntwork im not arguing just for the sake of it . It’s just that for most people 2 days of work per week is beyond the dream. It just seems lazy to me to be complaining about that. Sorry if that offends you .

I find some of this post hilarious. Does your OH feel this way? I mean you don’t want to work for me time? I wonder how your husband feels earning all the money and not having this choice.

No, I don’t work because I have to. I work because I want to. I like contributing and earning my own money (we share everything) . I like showing my children that a strong Independant woman can be successful and it isn’t just a man that goes to work:

I took some time off work and hated it. Spending my life having coffee, going to the gym and cleaning the house isn’t how I wanted to define myself so maybe every woman is different.

I wish I could work whatever days I wanted as well it would make my life easier. But I’m employed to work and that’s just the way it is. If it was impossible for me to do the hours I do I would look for alternative employment. I don’t understand someone complaining that they “earn too much “. I mean at the end of the day it’s only two days. You have 5 days a week to spent time on other fulfilling activities?

I dunno I mean try being a nurse and doing 13 hour shifts with no break plus night duty. None of us have it that easy but unfortunately that’s the way life is. I respect teachers and the work that they do but I don’t really agree with your statement.

I have two young children as well including a 6 month old. Yet I still don’t really get your point.

I think the grass is always greener. I’m a carer for my disabled son. Single cuz partner fucked off as soon as the reality of the situation was confirmed. I don’t have to work as rely on UC. I was going mad at home and fretting for my future financially so went back part time. Now I’m drowning and struggling to keep minimum standard in every area parenting and work. Constantly have UTI, headaches, unwell. Now I want to stop work and just accept I will be nothing but a lonely isolated carer till I’m too old to do it then poor in old age as I gave up my chance to build a pension. If I don’t stop too I will burn out and die well before old age most like. I will still daydreaming about working if i quit though because neither choice is fully what I want

I work 45-50hrs a week term time, and 25hrs over the holidays.

I also have a severely disabled 9 year old who isn’t toilet trained, throws things round the house, and who has severe sleep issues. One night last week he slept 9pm - 1am. That was it.

So either one of us is unreasonable, or we have very different attitudes to our jobs/work-life balance.

Sounds like you have a DH problem!

I think alot of people rationalise their difficulties as societal or a direct result of matters beyond their control, when actually the problem is staring them in the face.

Your money should be shared as a family. There should be no need to ask for money.

And not all domestic work should fall to you even if you are a SAHM!